Positional Importance

Kevin Kinder

07/04/2008

C.J. Crawford has been on the move this summer. From camps to a new high school, it's been a busy time for the rising senior, who has recruiting interest from several schools at several positions. We caught up with the man on the move after his appearance at West Virginia's rising senior camp.

"It was a fun experience," he said of his day in Morgantown, the latest of several visits for the West Virginia standout. "I go to work out at some positions other than quarterback. I did some reps at safety and some at wide receiver, and I got to put in some extra work because our team was up there for the seven on seven. So I was there for a couple of days.

"We did o.k. in the seven on seven. We went pretty deep in the winners bracket, but then we lost two straight. But while we were there, we got to travel around to the other fields, and we played in the Indoor facility and on the practice fields and on the stadium field. That was pretty cool. We got to look around town, too."

The nature of camps today is to pack as much into as short a time as possible, and that was the only drawback for Crawford.

"I think I did pretty well at the new positions, but the camp was kind of short, so I didn't get quite as many reps in on Sunday as I would have liked. But I think I did o.k., and they got to see me at the other positions.

The question of other playing spots is an important one for Crawford, as most schools are looking at him at either wide receiver or safety. Crawford, who played quarterback for Huntington (W. Va.) high school last year, would like to play that position in college, but realizes it may not work out if he wants to play in the top tier of the Football Bowl Subdivision.

"West Virginia's coaches said I looked good at safety and wide receiver, and that they will look at me hard there," said Crawford, who is still waiting on a scholarship offer from WVU. "In some ways, I think my playing quarterback in high school is a disadvantage there. I can't really show anyone any film of me at any other position, so that's why the camps are important for me. It's important that the schools get the chance to see what I can do there."

So far, Crawford has offers from Wake Forest and Marshall, but only the Herd has offered him as a quarterback. Wake is recruiting him as a receiver or defensive back, and if West Virginia offers, it will be at one of those positions as well.

Crawford appears to be warming slightly to the possibility of playing a position other than quarterback in college.
"It's not really important," he said when asked about his preference for position. "I just want to get on the field as soon as I can."

NOTES

Crawford may attend camps at Wake Forest and Vanderbilt later this summer.

* * *

After a 1-9 junior season at Huntington, Crawford is transferring to pass-happy Nitro for his senior season. The Wildcats will also be breaking in a new head coach, but Crawford believes it can work out.

"It's been going well so far, but it has been difficult changing schools. But we've been working together, so I think it's going to be o.k.